Valve mechanism for internal-combustion engines.



, UNITE STATES JOHN' n mrronn? @aanname-man an@ Be it Y known,"tha'tlyflorrlv G'LiFFoRD,A a `citizen of i the United States,res1d1ng,at

Stockton, ingthe'eollily O San Joaquinandv .ineand 1abor; Y nope'rationhejniain-` oolz" otvvithstandin P 20 the Passage gaseslofthegengine Inthe aoCoInpanymg-'drayvings, Figure `1I is' a ysider View f of n'*four-cylinder j internal combustion vengine ltowlflieh my` invention isthereof; Eig, 3" Vis* tan enlarged longitudinalI section, ,thereof 'on'the-line 3 3 of Fig,k 4 ;r Fig.' 4 is a transverses'ection thereof onlthe linen ,4-4-4 of Fig;- 3; {Fig-f 5; is Y a," side View of 's vthelrotary. valvejdfetaehed; Fig. L6 is lay per'- f spective View of laffeluteh ring', or Y 11111011.

y therefor; .Y n

Referring."` to the drawing, 1 indicates` a crank case ofrafour-cylinder internal com- 35-bustion engine in'kwhieh; rotatestheshaft 2y of said. engine." Secured npon'said` prank case aretheeasin'gs of the. ycjylirldeis of.v said engineformedwithWater-,jackets Formed -f on said casingsare boxes 5 foraAworm'shaft- 40 6, to one enclof whichpisxvslseeurell asproeket wheelc7`'engagingv asprcketf/Ghim. 8, which also 'engages as'progcketgfwheel'Sul'ed upon `the shaft ofthe-engine.' aSaid sprocketI chain eaclrhavingon he ideineiit 'thelcylinder,- af

central .hr Iann-v lar' r U l 55 metigicall'yoppo p tniwmd im outer 01112 ,formed wiutdiadi'ally v, l lffSlvIrrH, QF svTocKTON, CALIFORNIA?,'nu e ron'INTEnNAL-CoMBUTIQN EIIGINS I i I y famed@ 18,19

lmsiglrial lol'eiles. i Y

struction,V noiseu y-infth'ebottoniofthe re n tube extending beyond-"theinner tube;

shaft earries Wbrms16- Ltendingunder#A ,PATENT 'OFFICE 5 ineneweuseptemtrza, 1,915.v

Y eut `grooves' 21. HSaid)groovesengage feled" feathersl 123 formedonjoneside' clutch Aringy 24,; on. the otller`. s`icle2 h2 ring areformed featherfsl26"atgrightanVv es to the feathers231andf=whichfengagegroo 27 in anannular endffo'fiy otarygtublar.'lhefrelation of each Worm ,Wheelv 1.7 y the corresponding 'Worm 16l is:such thatf '.tubular vavle`28 makes onerevolution every fourvrevolutions of theenginesha Screwed` into the4 end ofthevalve .to `Glothe lsame ils-a'` plug29/havingn itsfouter- -Aheimgonaliiiecessjtg f y't,drawing th valve ,t0A f clip 32 boltedg as fshovv clip is 'formedwith aflaring mouth to facil' tate the entry'.` of, ther knob`i',hereinto.f-`1y Said valve 28 `is formed Withl an' inner .tubefL-Seland with Kan outer ltube 35, spaced apartto 'provide van annularl,conduite 361j the,

end thereof connected to the p'lughbutl "nected integrally with `saidinrleituloelV other end'.V At said'latte'r.endisadpoute is'of increasedthickness, sol-ias; tol form an annular shoulder 37'abuttingagain'stia,wall 38 ofan'anruilar` supply' `chamber v'39,- theterminalportion ofthe "valve-isagaiu increasedfthicknes's; so ras toQfrin a.A -see y k,annular shoulder 40 abuttingqagaint outer Wall 41ofthe casting.' Thefsfh 37 `of the `rotary [valve servesto preventpassage of gases `loetvveen v,the annular;L supply chamber' 39and"spa1cebetween' outer tube 35 audits' bearing'yja'ndv' manner` the shoulder1310 ypreventsl th -gress; `ofrv'ar or exhaust gase'sfintgfsa nular gassupply charnloery 39.. .By forming thevsho'ulder 40 and theouterJwalflyfll Vvery thin,` 'a `,cooling effectoflthe gases" :of the annularvgas supply chamberV uponfsaid Wall 'and shoulder is rcured, ytlrlat' l{not obtainedotherwiseJ Betweenws'aidinner louter Walls `318, 4.1,isiformedfltheefann Agas supply hanlber 3:9, extending enti around theouter tube of .-thegifall u ply ehamber 'derivingits supp tible mixture?by Y a l `conduitl43 e recess in said vouter, wall around said conduit43 fits the end of a hollow fitting 44, with which communicatesr a pipe45` of the i manifold Fitting in a recess in said walli 5 4l aroundI theopen end oi' the tubular valve is the head 46 of a hollow lfitting 47connected to an exhaust pipe 48. Between the hea'd46 and the wall 41 isinterposed a gasket 49 of asbestos which serves also as a heat insulatorand the inner side of which is lined with a thin sheet 4 0 of copper.Said ttings are held in place by'means of a bar 5l, through which passesa post 52, the inner end of which is screwed into the cylinder casting,which bar 51 is irmly pressed against the outer sides of said fittingsby a wing nut.62 screwed on to said post.

The annular gas supply chamber 39 communicates with the annular conduit36 between the inner and outer tubes of the valve A by meansofaci-rcular series of rectangular apertures 53 formed 'in said outertube, and .from said annular conduit 36 the combustible mixture can flowinto the cylinder by one of two elongated ports 54 in said outer`tube,`when said port 54, by the rotation ofl the tubular valve, isbrought into register with that end of a pail' of conduits 55 in thecylinder casting which leads to the interior of the correspondingcylinder. By the same conduit 55 the exhaust gases can flow out of thecylinder through one of two exhaust conduits 56 leadingto the interiorof the inner tube from the outside of the valve, thence iiowing to theinterior of the fitting 47, and thence to the exhaust pipe 48, The

elongated ports l54, as likewise the exhaust conduits '56, are arrangeddiametrically oplv posite to one another and thus prevent the 40 warpingof the valve that would be caused by the heating thereof `with exhaustgases were the arrangement otherwise, as,`for instance, if only oneport/54 and one conduit 56, were used.

The lports 5'4 and conduits 56, are, of course, formed in the rotaryvalve in such angular relations, that the valve will move at the propertime to supply vcombustible gases to the cylinders for explosive combustion, and to permit the escape of the i waste gases resulting fromcombustion.

- It ,Will be observed that by reason of the innertube being spaced fromthe conduit 55 byfthe annular conduit for the combustible 55 mixture,the waste gases, passing outward through said inner tube, are preventing@from highly heating the outer wall of the valve and the part of thehead .of the cylinder in contact therewith; while, at the same 460l timethe flow 0f the combustible mixture around said inner -tube prevents thesame from becoming. excessively vheated by said waste gases. f

By reason of the inlet conduit for the C# combustible gases surroundingthe exhaust conduit for the combustible gases, said gases are heated bythe passage of the exhaust gases, and are thus thoroughly vaporized andbrought to a perfect condition for' immediate combustion when suppliedto the engine.

An, important advantage of my invention consists in the constructionwherebyl the valve tube can be removed bodily, inspected and cleaned, ifnecessary, and replaced, by the mere unscrewing of .a nut, and theremoval of a loose iitting.

When the engine is in operation the back pressure from the exhaust andthe suction from the' intake .are sufficient to keep the shoulders ofthe valve firmly seated against their seats. Means otherwise providedfor holding the valve in position are intended' for use only during theothergperiods o f the engine cycle. It is not desirable to vapplypressure to the hot or exhaust end of the 1 valve for this purpose, andfor thisreason the draw. clampv 32 is provided at theopposite end of thevalve. 4It is to be observed.

that the construction of the loose joint will' be such that, when thevalve is in 'the position to be driven home in the valve seat it willalso be in the position without further attention on the part of theassembler, to l -register withthe cylinder conduits.

1. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of two parallelinternal com bustion cylinders having adjacent heads, and provided witha rotary valve seat, adjaf .Centto their heads, each cylinder being con?nected with said seat by a passage for'thed` admission an-d exhaust ofgases," a rotary valve in said seat its plane of rotation .being iparallel with that 'through the, axes of the cylinders, and comprisingan inner .tube and an 'outer tube extending beyond the inner i 'tube andseparated'therefrom by an annular space, said tubes'being both' closedat the same end, the inner tube being open at the other vend to exhaust,andfmeansat said other end for connecting the .annular space between thetubes with asource of supply of combustible mixturcasaid valve being 115 provided with two diametricallyv opposite.A passages'lea'ding to saidseat from the inner ltube, and two diametrically opposite pas# sagesleading to said seat from ..the'space between the tubes, all the end sof said pas- 4sages adjacentto said seat beinglocated to register insuccession, in the rotation of the valve, with the .passageconnectingisaid sea-t with-eachcylinder.

.2; In an internal combustion engine, the combination of two parallelinternal combustion cylinders having adjacent heads,- and provided nl'ith va rotary valve seat, adjacent to their heads, each cylinderbeingconnect ed with said seat by a passage for the admission andexhaust otqgases, and a rotary valve in' said seat its plane, ofrotation being parallel with that. ythrough"the axes. of the cylinders,Yand comprising 'inner and outer tubes, both ,closedat-the .same end andsepayrated 'by an annular space', the inner tube being atthe other,endIv open to exhaust, the `'Valve seat being vformed at said .otherend vwith a'gas supply chamber, and said outer tube .being foi'niedatsaid other end with a' circumferential f series of 'holes forvconducting fuel gas ioi'n] said supply chamber to said annular spaee,said valve being provided with twofdi'ametrically opposite passagesleadingtosaidseat from the inner tube, and tWoI-idianietrically*opposite `passages leading to said seat from the space betweenthetubes,` all 'the ends of Vsaid'passages adjacent tosaidseat beinglocated to register in succession, the rotation 'ofthe valve,- With thepassage f connecting' said .seat with ,each.oylinder.f,n'Y l, 3. ininternal combustion i; engine, the combi'iiationfyvith a cylinder havinga con-- duit, (it/means fors'upplying a .combustible- Iof the cylin erand .comprising inner-fand lar supplyx', jchamber, thelsame end c= theouter. tubebeing'formed .with a plurality of openings for admittingcombustible mixture from the ,annularsupply chamber toi the annularspace'. ,'between4 tite,

orxned veith conduits com- "utergflside respectively fthe, i' ner 'tubeand yfrom ""the'inner .and

QA, 'Ingan' internal contiblistio'nv engine, the

combination-With ay cylinderr'of'the engine' having a ,"con'diiit"through ,its bead, of means o. ,upp lyinga eoinbustiblemixture to said iengine', `a rotary-tubular ,'alvfe consisting of v inner'fandfouteitubes, 'the innertube .com-r .said Wheelitofone'end'jof, said Valfi'fepermit-Y ltings'aid valvevto be' readily detached lon` gitudinallytherefrord'said valve 'casing and valve hayinggrespeetively shoulderVto, its :seat 5s combinationwitha cylinder hawing a con- [ofwas'tegases from-the' cylinder tion. `and means, detachably en end'ofthevalve, for rotating thev 'aL-l and connected with` saidseatfbya'fpassage',

l tube forming the wall of .the 'exhaust'eoni `ply chamber aroundtheouter tube ,andcom vided with passages leading to" sai from the innertube -aidspace mixture, a ry tary valve located in thehead outertubes;aliyalyefcasin'gsurrounding the ,l having a conduit "through itshead valve and formed'at one end .with an annu:

innerfa'nd outer n Y e e e e l y y being formed`withi,conc'luit",s-eoxrnnunica 1n betweenthe inner andbuter tubefr`-ii'otating said i which saidyalverotates andhayi'ng respectivelyan'annular shoulder,

'tubes c'ommunicatingiwitli. -saidmeans, said h,

for transmitting'gt erotation oi` u e a seat andannular-shoulder, landmeans -for helding the;

linA anl internal combustionilengine, the 'l .y duit, "and 'inea-nsysul'ipl'yingy combustible l.

mixture, dof" a rotary"y vls'ilyey k,for the supply off said mixture,and

lcated at the end of ,s`aid.gvalve rena exhaust for maintainingthe valvfvalve Abeing detachablefbyf a ljongi uV n inoveinent only yfrom theyineansvqfo y rotat-v ingitf y f '6. lnan internal combustion-engine;combination of ang'internalfcombust n inder provided with afvalveseatfin tsihe'ak,

and a valver'otatable in 'saidlseathlavinglin ner. Vand outer tubes,Vspaced apart, ith'efinner andthe valve seat being fornied withlamunicating through the outer` tube; Vith4 space between thetubesthevalye being py sea -f In an internal' cinbusltion-jengine,combination with; a cylinders ofv th `for .supplying acombustible mixturtorsaid 1 engine, a rotary tubular.Nal,veveon'sisiinglofv inner andouter i',ube`sthe innertubeycom 9`5 n'uri'cznting.L withth'atniosphere,f rnd yh space betweenthe Sy eri .fandi youter ucommunicating withxfrsaid means,sa`d valv ,Wivtl'ji'its outer. siderespectivelyffr 1n .teri'or-of-the inner tube and from 'he 1 f'drivenfrom Athe engin'elishdmandiniea transmitting the rotationfofbsal Wheels.

berv with :which said supplyingjfmea space communcatasaidyalve and al'ing'ha'ving on. `a`ch sidef of,4 and ,cl 3 I jacent to, the'communication ywith 1 upon which the shouiuepeqnimaig joint, and means'for. holjdxng sai b ders to their seats;

8 I`nfan internaly combustion engine th combination of twoparallel'illlk nal n. -bustion-cylinders" hayingjfadjacen and provided'with arotary-valv"` *se cylinder being connected with's a passage forthe admissionandexhaust f; gases, a rotary valve; inisaid-sea end;prsingl4 an innerv tubeand y, I utM vSe iaratd by "all annlllifspace;being both closedfat thef'samefen t -tube being open 4at the-,other 'enand,` means at said other Lend for con the annular space betwenthejtubes sourcey'ofl 4suppl-y ofbgcombustb said valvey being provided IWit metrically'ropposite passages, vladin seat from the inner tube, andtwo diametri- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set cally oppositepassagesleading to said seat my hand in the presence of two subscribingfrom the space between the tubes, the ends witnesses. j

of each pair of diametrieally opposite pas- JOHN E. CLIFFORD. 5 sagesbelng located to register alternately, Witnesses:

in the rotation of the valve, with the 'pas- FRANCIS A. -WRIGHT,

sage connecting said seat with each cylinder. D. l B. RICHARDS. l

